Here's another chapter for you all ;) I'm dedicating this one to SolarLunar because I share her views :P

ambet: I'm sorry that you don't like this story. Since you don't then I doubt you are reading this, but just in case ... I'll tell you a little secret *whispers* I am a Jecker person too ;)

Chapter 5 may take a while to appear seeing as I haven't written it yet :P

Disclaimer applies

This is the chapter where everything changes ...

I hope you enjoy it ;)

When 5 o' clock finally rolled round, Jess was still chattering excitedly on the way home with Abby and Connor. Tonight, she informed them; her and Darren were going back to his place and ordering Chinese. It was nice, she said that even though Jess had given Darren the chance to cancel and rest, he had insisted on keeping the plan, joking that Jess would just have to look after him.

Jess hadn't been to Darren's house before, she knew where it was of course from the file, and was excited. It was in the posh area of town and it was a detached house with three storeys, plus a basement if the floor plans were still accurate, which was very rare for London. Jess had researched Darren's life quite extensively, aiming to get a feel for how he lived. She thought that he must get bored quite a lot, but then again, seeing as he was paid as if he worked at the ARC every day, since beginning to date Jess, Darren had been, if just to make her coffee and offer a chat every so often when she didn't look too busy. But before they met he must have been lonely. Now he hung around the ADD a lot when Jess was working there. Jess usually didn't mind it when people watched her work. She was observed constantly after all; but with Darren, she felt as if he saw every little thing she did; every key she pressed as her fingers danced across the keyboard and judged every mistake or spelling error she made. She shook off that feeling. It was sinister and silly and it was just her overactive imagination; but all the same, she didn't really like that intense gaze of his when he was looking at the computer or the back of her head. It made her squirm a little bit. But that was just nerves. She had been the same … or at least similar with Becker. Nevertheless she was going to his that night and wore a pale pink cocktail dress that wasn't too dressy, but made it look like she'd made an effort. And after slipping a pink Alice band in her hair and telling a smiling Abby and Connor not to wait up, she was ready.

When Darren picked her up, he looked her up and down without comment; he gave her a bunch of chrysanthemums one of which he stuck in her hair, under the head band; it was pink and it matched the dress. It took about twenty minutes to get from Jess' flat to Darren's house, all of the time they played cheesy old music and sang along to the ones they knew … Jess was embarrassed that she actually knew all of the words to most of them, growing up; this had been what she heard every day from her Dads room. The memories made her smile and so she sang enthusiastically, not very well she might add, but it was all in good fun.

When Darren let them into his house, he gave Jess plenty of time to look around. He joked that he was used to a jaw dropping reaction, and from Jess, that was what he got. It was beautiful. Old fashioned but everything was ornate and elaborate. It was almost overdone, but not quite. If Jess had had to guess, she would have said that belonged to an old couple but she knew that it had. Darren had inherited this house from his grandparents, as an only child they had probably doted on him, and in repayment, he hadn't changed anything.

'It's lovely' Jess breathed in wonder

'Yeah' Darren replied, looking straight at Jess 'it is' Jess blushed and looked away, focussing on a small side table. There was lots of clutter, and usually Jess hated clutter, but it was done so tastefully that she couldn't help but admire the arrangers of all the knick knacks, there was enough space for things if you happened to need to put them down, a mug, a bag of groceries etc. It was different, and she couldn't help thinking that it didn't really suit Darren and his way of life, him being a military man whose job it was to hunt down dinosaurs.

Darren gave her the grand tour and they ended up in the kitchen, choosing from a wide range of Chinese menus. Eventually they decided on one and Jess insisted on prawn crackers, the memory of that particular incident making her both laugh and blush at the same time. Darren ordered and then asked her why the reaction. Jess told him happily, leaving out the falling asleep on Becker part and cutting short the victory hug, she might be oblivious sometimes, but she wasn't completely tactless. As she talked, Darren's mouth got thinner and his grey eyes seemed to turn to steel.

'I know you liked Becker' he said bluntly at the end of the tale 'and I know that you left out some bits, but this is before we met and so it doesn't matter, but I'd appreciate it if we kept old flames out of the conversation.' He said it almost forcefully and Jess was startled

'Ok' she said, she could understand, and was secretly pleased that it made him jealous, she perked up again when there was a knock at the door 'Chinese!' she cried and barrelled over to the door, luckily not knocking anything over in the process.

Darren answered, but the delivery guy went away laughing at the young woman bouncing behind him, like a six year old child who was promised a go on the merry go round. Darren carefully took the bags back to the kitchen and placed them on the table, as he got the food out and separated it onto plates he directed Jess to the cutlery drawer, she was so excitable that on the short trip back she managed to drop both forks and a spoon. Darren rolled his eyes mockingly

'It's only Chinese' he told her grinning. She blushed but answered with mock indignation

'Only Chinese? This, Mr Marsh' she gestured to the bag of food 'is the finest creation of culinary expertise to ever grace London' she tipped some chicken fried rice onto her plate and dug in as Darren raised an eyebrow

'So she has spunk' he teased 'you know I always thought that you were nice and quiet, so I ask you out and you bring out the attitude' he winked and touched her wrist 'I can remedy that'

Jess let out a nervous giggle, not quite sure what he meant; Darren sat back and smiled,

'But you know, Chinese food isn't actually Chinese … Well, most of it anyway'

Jess shook herself, and decided to ignore the weird comment

'I know. Who'd have thought?' she said, going back to her rice and dipping some prawn crackers in the hot and sour soup that Jess had only just noticed. 'But it's still my favourite all the same'

The conversation trailed off as they ate; Jess paused once to ask how his arm was, she had been so distracted that she had almost forgotten the eventful day

'Its fine' he replied shortly 'it'll be good as new by tomorrow. So everything can go back to normal'

They lapsed back into silence. This was kind of an uncomfortable silence she thought, it was as if he was waiting for something. Jess shook herself again probably just the pain meds she reasoned he'll be back to normal by tomorrow, just like he said.

Jess sincerely hoped it was true. It was nothing really; Darren hadn't said anything very odd or invasive. It was just a feeling. But it was sinister and creepy, and Jess didn't like it. She thought it might be something about the house. Despite it still being light outside, Darren had the curtains tightly closed; she supposed he had thought that the dark atmosphere was romantic. But really, it was unsettling. She decided to just go with it and try to ignore this irrational fear that was beginning to gnaw at her stomach, she did this by eating more of the food and burying the fear under a mountain of chow mien.

Jess discreetly glanced at the grandfather clock to her right; it was now 9:30. Darren caught her looking.

'Can't wait to go home?' his tone was light, but his eyes had a steely glint in them that was impossible to ignore

'No' she said, embarrassed, 'I was just looking at the …'

'Don't LIE to me!' Darren growled, his voice rising. He brought his fist down on the table and Jess jumped, 'I chose you, because you were perfect! But you aren't perfect are you?' he was making his way around the table towards Jess

'Well' Jess said, laughing nervously 'nobody's perfect' Darren got closer

'Darren' she pleaded, on her feet now as she backed away 'please … just calm down'

'DON'T tell me what to do, do you HEAR? I tell YOU what to do, NOT the other way round!' he was still advancing, and Jess was terrified. Her back hit the wall and she gulped. She thought about bolting for the front door, but doubted she would make it in time; these heels had been a mistake. Plus, even if she did make it outside she had nowhere to go. It would take an hour to walk home and if Darren pursued her then she wouldn't even get to the end of the street. What was wrong with him? She asked herself, watching him fearfully; he was so close now she could smell his breath. She tried reasoning again

'Please let me go Darren' she begged 'Please'

He stopped a few inches from her.

'DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!' he roared again. Drawing his hand back he hit Jess, hard, across the face, the force of it sending her into a glass table which shattered. The glass cut into her arms and legs. Pain shot through her, blood trickled down her arms. When she looked up at Darren, he was stood, frozen, hand still upraised. Jess flinched away and scrambled up, hands clutching her face, and headed towards the door; ignoring the pain in her legs. A hand closed on her forearm and she let out a small scream and tried to shake it off

'Jess, please' he said. She stopped struggling. It was no use, he was too strong. She looked at him, azure eyes wide with fear, she was trembling.

'Jess I am so sorry' he said, voice gentle, reassuring 'I had no idea I would do anything like that. I didn't know that I could. He shook his head, looking traumatized. 'I will never be able to apologize enough' he finished, his head down. A tear leaked out of one eye and slid down his cheek.

Jess' heart swelled with pity. Surely he hadn't meant to. She thought. He'd had a rough day, mixed with the meds, he'd just lost control.

Jess hesitated a second longer before reaching out her free hand to cup his cheek, he lifted his eyes to meet hers and she looked back steadily

'I swear it won't happen again' he said pleadingly, grey eyes filled with anxiety

'I forgive you' Jess said. Trying to convince both of them at the same time

'Let me drive you home?' Jess nodded and she and Darren headed out the door

'This will mean my job won't it' he said miserably. It wasn't a question.

'Not if I don't tell anyone' she said briskly. He truly couldn't have meant to hurt her. Or he wouldn't be so remorseful.

They drove in silence. Only when they got to Jess' flat did Darren speak

'Would you like to give me another chance?' he said; eyes downcast. 'I understand … if you don't I mean.'

Jess paused and surveyed him a moment

'Tomorrow night' she conceded, getting out of the car and digging her keys out from her bag. Darren's face had lit up when she looked back at him; he gave her his most charming grin before speeding away.

Jess sighed as she unlocked the door and tiptoed into the flat. She headed straight for the bathroom, not wanting Abby or Connor to see her like this.

An hour later, as she was picking pieces of glass out of the cuts on her legs having already done her arms, Jess wondered again if she had done the right thing.

DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUUN... So ... what do you think?

Was Jess right to forgive Darren? Will Darren keep his promise to make sure it doesn't happen again? Do you like chocolate?

Review about anything! Good/bad/irrelivent I don't care :P Just please review ^.^

I hope you enjoyed that and that you are sufficiently intrigued ;)

Love you all

Love Tibbins xx